Washing-machine.



W. DE L. WHITNEY.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED PEB.28,1806.

901,051. Patented Oct. 13,1908.

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W. DE L. WHITNEY.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.28,1906.

Patented 001;. 13, 1908.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLTE DE LANOIWHITNEY, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE NINETEEN HUNDRED WASHER COMPANY, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

WASHING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, WILLIE DE LANO WHITNEY, a citizen of the United States, re siding at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Washing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to washing machines of that type in which the clothes to be washed are placed between two members, one of which is movable toward and from the other for the purpose of alternately squeezing and releasing the clothes, and one of which oscillates with respect to the other for the purpose of rubbing the clothes.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel means for utilizing the movement of the oscillatory member to transmit vertical reciprocatory movement thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this type which may be operated with minimum exertion, and in which the acquired momentum of the tub may be relied upon to assist in the operation after the tub has once been started into motion.

A still further object of the invention is to construct a mechanism of such nature that the oscillatory movement of the tub will be transmitted through suitable connections to a tub support and there utilized in raising the tub, and the downward movement of the tub by gravity will be transmitted through the same mechanism for the purpose of oscillating the tub, so that as a result a partial rotative movement of the tub in one direction will result in elevating the same, and then the weight of the tub in descending will turn said tub in the reverse direction, and the momentum acquired during the latter portion of this operation is utilized in assisting in the second elevation of the tub.

A still further object of the invention is to construct a mechanism of this class in which the tub spindle is stepped on a lever, one end of which is operatively connected to the tub, and is operated by the oscillatory movement of such tub.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the a pended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawmgs:Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a washing machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the view being drawn to an enlarged scale and illustrating infull and in dotted lines the two extremes of movement of the operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the mechanism forming the subject of the present invention.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The washing machine is supported on a suitable support A, and includes a tub B and an inner disk 0 that is supported by a vertically disposed frame D. The tub B is provided with a handle E which is grasped for the purpose of imparting oscillatory movement in a horizontal plane to the tub. The inner disk C remains stationary during this operation, and as the tub is oscillated, the clothes are rubbed between the disk and the bottom of the tub. At the same time a vertical reciprocating movement is imparted to the tub through the mechanism which forms the subject of the present invention. The tub therefore constitutes a member which is oscillatory in a horizontal plane and may be reciprocated in a vertical plane.

The frame A in the present case is shown as comprising a number of standards which are rigidly connected at the top by a spider frame 10 having a central vertically disposed opening for the reception of a spindle 11, the upper end of the latter being provided with a number of radiating arms 12 that are rigidly secured to the bottom of the tub. Two of the with an opening for the reception of the outer end of a connecting rod 18, said rod being provided. with a ball or sphere 19 which bears against the inner face of the upturned end of the lever, while the extreme end of the rod its loosely in the opening, the parts being loosely connected in order to permit ready separation when necessary. The surface of the inner end of the lever is slightly hollow in order to form a seat for the rounded lower end of the spindle 11. The lever therefore serves as a carrier for the tub.

Secured to one of the arms 12 of the spindle carrying spider is a stud 20, having at its lower end a ball 21 that is seated in a socket formed at the inner end of the connecting rod 18, the ball being held in place by a suitable ring 22 that is screwed in a threaded opening at the top of the socket, the lower surface of the ring being rounded to form a part of the socket in order to allow complete freedom of movement of the rod. The inner end of the rod 18 is in the form of a ring 24 from the rear end of which extends an arm 25, and the extreme inner end of this arm is arranged to receive the ball 21, the parts being so proportioned that the vertical axis of the ball constitutes the center of the ring 24. This ring 24 encircles the spindle 11, while the arm 25, extending inwardly from the rear end of the ring, serves to prevent a complete rotation of the tub around its vertical axis. I11 no case, however, is it necessary for the arm 25 to engage against the spindle 11, the movement in both directions being limited by the contact of the inner end of lever 17 with the under side of the spider 10, and the contact of the rear portion of ring 24 with the spider arms 12.

In operation, the clothes to be washed are placed within the tub, and confined between the bottom of the tub'and the disk C in the usual manner. The operator then grasps the handle E and oscillates the tub, this movement carrying the ball 21 around the spindle 11, and forcing the connecting rodv 18 outwardly, so that the lever 17 is acted upon, and its outer end is forced down, while the bar 15 acts as a fulcrum for said lever, and the inner end thereof is carried upward. This elevates the spindle 11, so that the tub is carried upward and the clothes are squeezed between the bottom of the tub and the stationary disk C. If the tub is then released, it will move downward by gravity, and its weight transmitted through the spindle 11 to the lever 17 will result in forcing the rod 18 inward and oscillating the tub in the reverse direction, and the acquired momentum of the tub will carry the ball 21 to and beyond its initial position of rest, and will result in a second outward movement of the rod 18 and downward movement of the lever 1.7. The operator has only to assist this movement in order to effect a complete stroke, and then to release for the reverse movement.

2. The combination with a tub mounted for oscillatory and vertical reciprocatory movement, of a fulcrumed carrier which supports and is movable in one direction by said tub, means for supporting and guiding said carrier, and a wrist pin and pitman connection between said tub and the carrier.

3. The combination in a washing machine, of a tub mounted for oscillatory movement in a horizontal plane, a spindle secured to the tub, a spindle guiding means, a lever on a which said spindle is stepped, means for supporting the lever and means for connecting the tub to the lever to effect vertical reciprocatory movement of the spindle as the tub is oscillated.

4. In combination, a lever lulcrumed to swing in a vertical plane, means for supporting tie lever, a spindle stepped on one end of the lever, a spindle guiding means a tub carried by the spindle and arranged. to oscillate in a horizontal plane, a pin or stud carried by the tub at a short distance from the spindle, a connecting rod extending between the outer end of the lever and the pin or stud, the inner end of said. rod being in the 1 form of a ring, of which the stud forms the center, said ring being arranged to encircle the spindle.

5. In a washing machine, a frame including a spider having a fulcrum arm, a pin car- 10.5

ried thereby, a lever mounted on the arm and having an opening for the passage of the pin, the inner end of the lever being recessed, and its outer end having an upturned arm, a spindle guided by the spider and having a 1 rounded rear end fitting in the recessed. por tion of said lever, a tub secured to the upper end of the spindle, a stud carried by the tub and provided with a ball shaped end, a con.- necting rod extending from the arm. at the outer end of the lever to the stud and provided with a socket for the reception oil the ball, the inner end of the rod being ring-like in form, and encircling the spindle.

6. In combination, a tub, a tub supporting 1 spindle mounted in vertical bearings for revoluble and reeiprocatory movements, a vibratory lever supporting and movable in one direction by said spindle, means for supporting said lever and a wrist pin and pitm an 1 connection between the tub and said lever.

7. In a washing machine, a tub having a vertical spindle mounted for oscillatory and reeiprocatory movements, a spindle guiding means, an intermediately lulcrumed lever 1.

having one of its arms arranged to support said spindle and movable in one direction thereby, means for supporting said lever, and a Wrist pin and pitman connection between the tub and the other arm of said lever.

8. In a Washing machine, a pair of rubbing members, one of Which constitutes a clothes receiver mounted for oscillatory movement, a spindle supporting said clothes receiver, a spindle guiding means, a lever held to actuate said spindle, means for supporting said lever, and means for connecting the clothes receiver to the lever to effect reciprocatory movement of the spindle as said clothes re ceiver is oscillated.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIE DE LANO WHITNEY.

Witnesses GEORGE LINDSAY COLE, DOANE OAFFERT. 

